Safety device for high chairs or the like



Nov. 10, 1953 c. D. DAVIS SAFETY DEVICE FOR HIGH CHAIRS OR THE LIKE Filed Feb. 8, 1950 five/Mar 67a d6 3. Ba v/Qr Patented Nov. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES FATENT OFF-ICE SAFETY DEVICE FOR HIGHCHAIRS on THE 1. 1m:

Glade D. Davis, Bisbee, Ariz.

Application February 8, 1950, Serial No. 143,113

1 .Claim. 1

This invention relates to a safety device :for high chairs or the like and it is a particular object of the invention to provide a device of this kind to prevent an infant from unauthorized or accidental leaving of the chair.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind which is portable and wherein means are provided for detachably mounting the same upon a seat in a manner and in a location tomaintain an infant on the seat.

Furthermore, it is also an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind including an elongated member for mounting upon the seat of a high chair or the like, said member to extend between the legs of the child on the seat to prevent the child from sliding off the seat.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved safety device for high chairs or the like whereby certain advantages are attained, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective illustrating a safety device embodying the invention and in applied position;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective illustrating the clamping means herein comprised;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawing the safety device comprises an elongated strip of metal bent substantially L-shape to provide a horizontal member I to rest on the forward central portion of the seat 2 of a high chair C or the like, with which a tray 3 is employed, and a vertical member 6 rising from the inner end of the horizontal member I to a point immediately beneath the rear central portion of the tray 3.

The forward or outer end of the flat member I is continued by a substantially downwardly directed semi-circular part 4 which, in turn, merges into a second elongated member underlying in predetermined spaced relation the member I and terminating at a point closely approximating the inner or rear extremity of the member l.

The vertical member 6, of the member I, to be straddled by the legs of an infant, has its marginal portions outwardly rolled, as at a, to

minimize liability of injury to the infant when the device is in applied or working position on the seat 2 of the chair C.

The member 6, or post or column as it may be called, is of considerable length and preferably of a length when the device is applied, to substantially bridge the space between the seat 2 of the chair C and the tray 3 when the tray is in working or lowered position.

In practice, the members I and 5 are straddled about the central forward marginal portion of the seat 2 of the chair C. This places the under member 5 below the seat 2 and closely adjacent thereto. The free end portion of the under member 5 carries a clamping element 7 to engage the seat 2 from below and thereby hold the device in required or selected working position on the seat 2 of the chair 0. The under member 5 possesses a certain degree of inherent resiliency, by reason of the semi-circular part 4, to facilitate the desired clamping action.

In the present embodiment of the invention, the clamping element 1 comprises an offset crank forming a part of an elongated shaft 8 rotatably supported in barrels l2 rolled from the free end portion of the under member 5 at opposite sides of a cut out portion 9 which cut out portion provides a clearance for the clamping element 1.

One end portion of the shaft 8 is continued by an angularly related elongated arm I0 which constitutes an operating lever for the shaft 8.

When the device is in applied or working position on the seat 2 of the chair C, the member, post or column 5 is positioned a material distance inwardly from the forward margin of the seat and between the legs and closely adjacent to the crotch of the infant occupying the chair. It is believed to be apparent that the safety device is applied after the infant has been seated.

The position of the member, post or column 6 serves as an effective guard to prevent the infant from sliding ofi" the chair and by having the member, post or column 6 terminate closely adjacent to the tray 3, the infant is prevented from throwing one leg from one side or the other of the member, post or column 6 which might allow the child to slide off the seat.

It it believed apparent from the foregoing that the device as a unit can be easily applied or removed and the construction of the device is such that it can be easily cleaned to maintain the same in sanitary condition.

Secured to the underface of the upper member I is a pad ll of rubber or other cutable material to prevent skidding and marring.

I claim:

In a safety device for high chairs and the like, including a tray supported by the chair, a body comprising a strip of metal bent substantially L- shape, a substantially semi-circular portion forming a continuation of the free end of the horizontal portion of said body, a second horizontal portion forming a continuation of the free end of said semi-circular portion and underlying the first horizontal portion, said horizontal portions being adapted to be straddled over the center of the front edge of the seat of the chair and the vertical portion of the body extending upwardly from the inner end of the first horizontal portion and adapted to extend to a point beneath the rear center of the tray, an elongate clamp element rotatively carried by and disposed across the inner end of said second horizontal portion and engageable when rotated in one direction with the bottom of the chair seat to retain the device in place, the free end of the said second horizontal portion having a central cutout, barrels formed at the free ends of the side portions of the cutout, and said clamp element having the form of a hand crank mounted for turning movements in said barrels with the cutout providing clearance for the crank por tion thereof, said crank portion engaging with the bottom of the chair seat when operative to secure the device in place.

CLADE D. DAVIS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 518,070 Morfoot Apr. 10, 1891 818,917 Ruger Apr. 14, 1906 1,259,604 Cook .d Mar. 19, 1918 1,617,882 Walker ..1 Feb. 15, 1927 1,902,367 Johnson Mar. 21, 1933 2,324,570 Figgins July 20, 1943 2,480,310 Torrey Aug. 30, 1949 2,544,760 Johnson Mar. 13, 1951 

